FIRO-B

What is FIRO-B?

FIRO-B (Fundamental Interpersonal Relationship Orientations – Behaviour) dates back from the early 1950’s and examines ways in which you typically act with others people. The originator of the FIRO theory was Will Schutz who became interested in the way people interacted when he was involved with the US Navy in trying to understand and improve the performance of command and control teams on board ships and created the FIRO-B questionnaire. As time progressed, Will Schutz continued his work in the Social Relations Department in Harvard.

By recognising that people needed people to receive from and give to in varying degrees, three specific areas were identified as key.

Inclusion – How much you want to include and involve other people in your activities and how much attention and recognition you want from others, not in your close one-to-one relationships but with people in general.

Control – this being the way in which you usually react to taking charge of situations or being directed by others. It includes issues such as authority, responsibility, decision-making and influence on others.

Affection- how your interpersonal relationships with people you might be close to i.e. good friends or someone whom you work with.

These behaviours fall into ‘Expressed’ – those we initiate and push out in to the direction of others and ‘Wanted’ – where we would like others to initiate and push in our direction.

We can work alongside teams and individuals to run questionnaires (on line) around FIRO-B.